Washing machine having rotary



29, 1950 .1. J. PALOTSEE Re. 23,264

WASHING MACHINE HAVING ROTARY BASKET AND IMPELLER Original Filed March 1'7, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N l\ N N .Ffv'aal Aug. 29, 1950 J. J. PALOTSEE WASHING MACHINE HAVING ROTARY BASKET AND IMPELLER Original Filed March 17, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 29, 1950 J. J. PALOTSEE Re. 23,264

WASHING MACHINE HAVING ROTARY BASKET AND IMPELLER Original Filed March 17, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 29, 1950 J. J. PALOTSEE 23,254

WASHING MACHINE HAVING ROTARY BASKET AND IMPELLER Original Filed March 17', 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Reissued Aug. 29, 1950 WASHING MACHINE HAVING ROTARY BASKET AND IMPELLER John J. Palotsee, Youngstown, Ohio Original No. 2,437,968, dated March 16, 1948, Se-

rial N0. 735,185, March 17, 1947.

Application for reissue March 15, 1949, Serial No. 81,581

20 Claims.

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears reissue specification; matter printed in italics This invention is a novel power-driven cleaning or washing machine adapted to be used for cleaning greasy automobile and other machine parts, kitchen utensils, dishes, clothes, or rags orother articles, and the principal object thereof is to provide a washer embodying certain novel features of construction, hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through my novel cleaning or washing machine.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the cleaner.

Fig. Bis an end view of the cleaner.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the rotary wire basket, detached.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of said basket.

. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section through the basket rotating means, showing the drive clutch.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1, Figure 6.

As shown, my cleaning and washing machine preferably comprises a casing I, preferably cylindrical in shape, open at the top and having a removable cover 2. Casing I may be open at the bottom, and is supported on wheels 3 carried by axle 4 secured to the lower end of the casing adjacent one end, and is also supported on swivel casters 5 adjacent the other end of the casing, whereby the machine may be readily moved from place to place. Disposed somewhat above the open bottom of the casing I is a false bottom plate 6 having a relatively large central opening 6a, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. Below the false bottom 6 is a concave bottom plate I having an outlet 1a at its center connected by a radially disposed pipe 3 passing through the casing I and provided with a drainage valve 9 disposed [exteriorally] exteriorly of the casing I.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, at one side of the casing I is a hollow protuberance bounded by side plates Ill which are preferably disposed at an outwardly converging angle to each other, a bottom plate I I slopingupwardly and outwardly, and a horizontal top plate I2, the outer end of said protuberance being closed by an outer plate I3, said protuberance being Welded or otherwise secured to the side of easing I.

in the original patent but forms no part of this 1 indicates the additions made by reissue The casing I communicates with one side of the interior of the protuberance through an opening Ix in the side of easing I, as shown in Fig. 2, and communicates with the opposite side of the protuberance through an opening Iy, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Within the protuberance, opposite the opening Iy; is a bearing sleeve l4 for a shaft l5 carrying a fluid impeller I6, said bearin extending through the outer wall l3 of the protuberance and carrying a sprocket or pulley I1 on its outer end of relatively large size. Preferably the inner end of bearing sleeve I4 is secured to a strut I8 by means of a clamp I9 of any desired type.

Upon the top l2 of the protuberance is an electric or other motor or prime mover 2E) carrying on its shaft a sprocket or pulley 2I disposed in the plane of sprocket or pulley H, a chain or belt or the like 22 running around the sprockets orpulleys 2I and I1 whereby the impeller shaft l5 will be rotated by and with the prime mover 20.

Also mounted upon the top I2 of the protuberance is .a gear box 23 containing a speed-reducing mechanism connected with the shaft of prime mover 20 and with an axially slidable driven shaft 24, which is journaled in the mechanism 23 and in a bearing 25 mounted in a lateral offset portion lz of casing I, said shaft 24 carrying on its inner end a beveled pinion 26, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Shaft 24 carries on its outer end spaced yoke engaging collars 21 receiving the yoke 28 of a shifting lever 29, as shown in Fig. 6,

whereby the shaft 24 may be shifted axially of the bearing 25 and mechanism 23, said lever 29 being pivoted on a bracket 30 carried by the mechanism 23. By the above construction the gear 26 may be shifted in and out of the offset portion Iz of the casing I while being driven directly from the prime mover 20.

Within the casing I is a basket 3|, shown in 'Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the same being cylindrical in shape, open at its top and closed at its bottom, the same preferably consisting of a wire mesh mounted upon a cylindrical open framework of any desired combination. At the bottom of the basket 3| are casters 32 whereby the same may be readily rotated when resting upon the false bottom 6 of casing I. At the sides of the basket 3| adjacent the upper end thereof are other casters 33 adapted to engage the inner side walls of the casing I to maintain same in spaced relation thereto. Extending around the basket 3|, adjacent its upper end is a ring gear 34 having beveled teeth on its upper face adapted to mesh 3 with the teeth of the bevel pinion 26 when shaft 24 is shifted into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pinion 26 being disengaged from the ring gear 34 who! Shaft 24 is shifted into the position shown in Fig. 6,

By the above construction, when prime mover 20 is activated the wire mesh basket 3| will be rotated thereby, and the impeller IE will be also rotated thereby. When the pinion 2Q retracted within the offset portion lz of easing l' as shown in Fig. 6, the basket 3| as a unit may be removed from the top of casing I, upon removal of cover 2, without interference with the. said pinion 25.

In operation The casing l, holds the cleaning fluid, while e artic es to be c anede e placed n. he wire basket which is lac d n. the cosine! When the prime mover is started the impeller 16 will cause the cleaning fluid within casing I to otate with n t ca ing n a coun e cl ckwise di ction. hi e at the same time the w re basket will be caused to rotate or revolve in the counter or lockwise dir ti n. Any s m nt on the articles being cleaned, set free during such opera! tion, will drop to the false bottom 6 of the casing nd l pass inward y due t the tu bul n oi the swirling fluid towards the center of plate 5 some passing h oug h cent a cle. 5a. i false bottom 6 and enterin the lower compartment below said plate, thus keeping the cleaning fluid above the false bottom 5 relatively free from, sediment. The fluid in the lower compartment remains relatively motionless and the sediment may be drawn off through the valved pipe 8 used for draining the machine. However; the upper compartment abovefalse bottom 6 may be. drained without draining the entire cleaner, y ma a o f the valve 31 (Fi s, and which is disposed slightly abovev the topv of the false bottom 6 of the casing I. I

The cleaning fluid may be. heated while the machine by placing a gas burner, electric or other heating unit underneath the casing l,

13X mo n ing e ring ge 4 and pin on 26 between the basket 3| and wall of easing; I, and b ow the upp r an le. i f th basket fr me a. sa arrangement s pr v ded, s nce all eear ing are enclosed. Also: when the pinion is engaged with the ring gear 34, the same is di nos d. a ve t e i g ar, thus. eliminat ng a y possibility of the pinion 26 and ring gear 24 be-v coming unmeshed, as might be the case if the basket! should rise within the casing I; also, the pinion 26 will hold the wire basket 3| down on the false bottom of the casing I.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1.- In a cleaning or W s ng mach n a r m rical asi f flu d open. a its t o-and havin av b ttom; a removable c er f r a d. top; a fals bott m w h as di posed ab ve. the. asns, b t om an aving, a atively lar e n ral pen th in; id b ttom having a valv d utlet therein; a rotata l open c lind ca basket, wit n he. casing s atin upca he f lse bottom; a. hollow lateral pr b ran e .1. the side of the casing above the. f lse bottom hav ng. its s d s ommuni a n with t e casing. ou h. r la.- lvely la open ngs th rethrcugh; an. mpeller icilrue e Within. he, protuberanc diaceot one side thereof adaptedto set up a swirling motion speed reducing means connecting the shafts of the motor and impeller; said basket rotating means comprising a speed reducing mechanism driven by the motor and having an axially slidable driven shaft; a :bevel pinion on the inner end of the driven shaft adapted when the driven shaft is shifted to move in and out of the prin cipal space in said casingfmanual means for shifting the driven shaft, and a rin g ar round the basket below the pinion having bevel teeth on its upper face adapted to mesh with the bevel pinion when the latter is shifted into the casin I the pinion being disengaged from the ring gear when the pinion is retracted out of the, casing to permit withdrawal of the basket. through the. open top of the casing.

4. In a machine as set forth in claim 3, the.

, wall of the casing having an outwardly offset,

portion therein {in way of the driven shaft]: for receiving the bevel pinion when retracted out of the principal space in said casing.

5. In a machine as set forth in claim 3, the.

j impeller shaft, driven shaft and motor shaft being disposed in parallel relation; said speed reducing means being directly driven and said shaft shifting means comprising a lever pivoted on the speed reducing mechanism and having a yoke engaging the driven shaft. 1

6. A cleaning or washing machine, comprising a cylindrical casing for fluid open at its top and bottom; a removable cover for said top; a false bottom within the casing disposed abovethe open bottom thereof and having a relatively large cen-' tral circular opening therein; a concave bottomplate below the false bottom having a valued [an] outlet at its low point; [said concave plate having a valved outlet therein;] a drain valve in the sideof the casing above the false bottom; "a rotatable open cylindrical basket within the easing seating upon the false bottom; a hollow lateral protuberance on the side of the casing above the false bottom having its sides communicating through a pair of relatively large openings with the interior of the casing; an impeller journaled" within the protuberance adjacent one sidethereof adaptedto set up a swirling motion of the fluid above the false bottom; a motor; means actuated by the motor for rotating the impeller to swirl the fluid in one direction;- and means actuated by the motor for rotating the basket in the opposite direction. T '7. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, the sides of the protuberance converging outwardly the bottom of the, protuberance sloping upwardly and outwardly; and the top of the protuberance being disposed substantially horizontally. I

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 6, casters; on the bottom of the basket engaging the false bottom; and other casters, on the sides of the; basket engaging the inner wall of the casing" above the level of said openings into the progtuberance. v 9.111 a machine as set forth in claim 6, said" motor being mounted on the protuberance and driving said impeller shaft through speed reducing means; said basket rotating means comprising a speed reducing mechanism mounted on the protuberance driven by the motor and having an axially slidable driven shaft mounted therein; a bevel pinion on the inner end of the driven shaft adapted when the driven shaft is shifted to move into and out of the casing, manual means for shifting the driven shaft, and a ring gear around the basket below the pinion having bevel teeth on its upper face adapted to mesh with the bevel pinion when the latter is shifted into the casing, the pinion being disengaged from the ring gear when the pinion is retracted outof the casing to permit Withdrawal of the basket through the open top of the casing. 10. In a machine as set forth in claim 9 the wall'of the casing having an offset portion therein in way of the driven shaft for receiving the bevel pinion when retracted out of the casing.

11. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, the impeller shaft, driven shaft and motor shaft being disposed in parallel relation; said speed reducing means comprising belt and pulley drive connecting the motor shaft and impeller shaft; the motor shaft directly driving the speed reducing mechanism of the driven shaft; and said shaft shifting means comprising a lever pivoted on the speed reducing mechanism having a yoke engaging the driven shaft.

12. A cleaning or washing machine comprising a cylindrical casing for fluid open at its top and bottom; a removable cover for said top; a false bottom within the casing disposed above the open bottom thereof and having a relatively large central circular opening therein; a concave bottom plate below the false bottom having an outlet at its low point; a pipe extending from the outlet through the side of the casing; a valve in said pipe; a drain valve in the side of the casing above the false bottom; a rotatable open mesh cylindrical basket within the casing having an open top and seating upon the fals bottom; a hollow lateral protuberance on the side of the casing above the false bottom having its sides communicating through a pair of relatively large openings with the interior of the casing; an impeller mounted on a horizontally disposed shaft journaled within the protuberance adjacent one side thereof adapted to set up a swirling motion of fluid above the false bottom; a motor, means actuated by the motor for rotating the impeller to swirl the fluid in one direction; and means actuated by the motor for rotating the basket in the opposite direction; the fluid below the false bottom remaining substantially motionless and receiving the sediment through th central opening in the false bottom which is withdrawn through the valved pipe.

13. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, the sides of the protuberance converging outwardly; the bottom of the protuberance sloping upwardly and outwardly; and the top of the protuberance being disposed substantially horizontally.

14. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, casters on the bottom of the basket adjacent the periphery thereof engaging the false bottom; and other casters on the sides of the basket engaging the inner wall of the casing above the level of said openings into the protuberance.

15. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, said motor being mounted on the protuberance and driving said impeller shaft through speed reducin: means; said basket rotating means comprising a speed reducing mechanism mounted on the protuberance driving by the motor and having a horizontal driven shaft axially slidably mounted in the mechanism, a bevel pinion on the inner end of the driven shaft adapted when the driven shaft is shifted to move into and out of the casing, manual means for shifting the driven shaft, and a ring gear on the side of the basket below the pinion having bevel teeth on its upper.

face adapted to mesh with the bevel pinion when the latter is shifted into the casing, the pinion being disengaged from the ring gear when the pinion is retracted out of the casing to permit withdrawal of the basket through the open top of the casing.

16. In a machine as set forth in claim 15, the Wall of the casing having an offset portion therein in way of the driven shaft for receiving the bevel pinion when retracted out of the casing.

17. In a machine as set forth in claim 15, the impeller shaft, driven shaft and motor shaft being disposed in parallel'relation; said speed reducing means comprising a belt and pulley drive connecting the motor shaft and impeller shaft; the motor shaft directly driving the speed reducing mechanism of the driven shaft; and said shaft shifting means comprising a lever pivoted on the speed reducing mechanism having a yoke engaging the driven shaft.

it. In a cleaning or washing machine, a. cylindrical casing for liquid open at its top and having a side wall and a bottom, a rotatable cylindrical basket within said casing having a side wall or mesh-like material to permit the free flow of liquid therefhrough, a hollow circumferentia lly elongated protuberance on the side wall 0 said casing having a side wall ea:- tcnding between widely spaced points of said casing and with the end portions of said last mentioned side wall generally tangent to adhorizontal axis ofi-set from the principal vertical axis of said casing, said side wall of said casing being cut away within the confines of said protuberance and in front of said impeller to provide a large open passage through said side wall of said casing for the free passage into said casing of liquid propelled by said impeller, said side wall of said casing being also cut away within the confines of said protuberance at the other end thereof to provide a large passage through said side wall of said casing for the flow of liquid from said casing into said protuberance and into the space behind said impeller, said impeller being spaced inwardly from the outermost portion of the side wall of the protuberance whereby liquid is caused to circulate between said casing and said protuberance along a curved closed path including said passages in series, means to rotate said impeller, and means for rotating said basket.

19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 further characterized in that said means for rotating said basket comprises a ring gear carried by said basket, a drive shaft iournaled in the outer wall of said casing and extending radially into said casing, a gear on the inner end of said drive shaft and adapted to mesh with said ring gear, and means providing a quick detachable interconnection betwcen said ring gear and pinion gear whereby said basket and ring gear may be lifted up out of said casing.

20. A cleaning or washing machine comprising in combination a vertically disposed cylindrical 7 liquid receiving 'casing having an open t0p, a false bottomv wall in said casing having unopening therein to provide a sediment trap in the lower end portion of said casing, avhollow lateral protuberance on the side wall of said casing above said false bottom wall and havinga. side-wall extending circumferentially between widely spaced points of said casing with the end portions of said last mentioned side wall generally tangent to adjacent portions of the side wall of said casing, a basket having an open mesh-like side wall received in said casing above said ialsegbote tom wall in lateral alignment with said pro: tnberance, the side wall of said casing being cut away within the confines of said protuberance to'procide circumjerentiallyspaced inlet and outlet passages between the circumferential ends of said protuberance and the space within said: casing, an impeller y'ournaled in one circumferential end portion of said protuberance for rotation about a generally horizontal axis oflset with respe'ct to the principal vertical axis of said casing, means to rotate said impeller; and said impeller being of the axial flow type and beingspaced inwardly from the outermost portion v0; the side wall of said protuberance whereby liquid is caused tocircrulate'around' an orbital path including- 9$ sequence said inlet passage to said protuberance; the space in said protuberance behind said im-i peller, said outlet passage, and the s'paceuinsaid basket. I I JOHN J. PALO'ISEE,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 1n-th e' file-cf this patent or'the original patent": I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nutilber Date .v

Name

111,176 churchmen Jan. 24., 1871. 1,083,380 Tapper Jan- 6,, 191-4 1,143,217 McGrath June 15, 1915 1,169,420 Myrick Jan, 25,1915 1,378,925 White May 24, 1921 1533216 McCutcben Oct. 24,1922 1,559,346 Moore 0012527, 1925 13%,.888 Perkins May 28', 1 929 1,869,510 Saunders Aug. 2, 1932 ,964,520 Krauss June 26,1934:- 2,304,014

Paine Dec. 1', 1942 

